My Farewell to you all
Dear Colleagues,
The Chairman of Staff Club had approached me on several occasions, proposing to organize a staff farewell dinner for me. I have declined his kind offer, but I wish to say a few words, from the bottom of my heart, through the ICAC Times to thank you all for your support and assistance over the years.
I joined the ICAC in 1975 shortly after its inception. I was extremely impressed with the immense sense of mission amongst the staff at that time and I have the highest regard for my predecessors and the officers who worked together with me at that critical time, including those who are still serving and those who had left the Commission.
It is this sense of mission which has enabled us together to overcome the challenges of the Reunification when there had been widespread misperception amongst local community and overseas media that ICAC would lose its independence and effectiveness after 1997. Particular thanks should go to the frontline staff who have worked many long hours to successfully bring to court a number of major cases, thus proving our effectiveness by action rather than words.
During my last six years as Head of the Operations, I believe we together have further built up our ability as a professional anti-corruption agency. Through the Annual Strategic Planning Workshops, we mapped out in consensus the Five Years Plan and had successfully implemented the various new initiative projects, in computer technology, accommodation and the setting up of six professional support sections. Looking back, I believe we can all be proud of our achievements.
I would particularly like to thank those who have worked with me. I know that I am a workaholic, too result oriented and always full of ideas, and when I am too eager to achieve the desired results, I might have been over-demanding with some of you and failed to recognize the human side of things. I wish to tell you that deep in my heart, I really appreciate your efforts and I thank you for your tolerance and support.
I also want to thank the Staff Club. They have been very active during the last six years and have organized a number of innovative activities. They have performed a very important role in uniting the colleagues of the three departments and in relieving our work stress.
At the eve of my departure, I certainly look back my 27 years with no regrets whatsoever. This is an extremely meaningful and satisfying career and I hope you will feel the same at the time of your retirement.
I wish you all continued success and good health to you and your families.
Tony Kwok